Which of the following is an emotional psychological trauma symptom?

• A. Insomnia and nightmares
• B. Racing heartbeat
• C. Guilt, shame, and self-blame
• D. Fatigue

Answer: (C)

Trauma can trigger symptoms across emotional, cognitive, physiological, and behavioral areas. An emotional-psychological symptom is a feeling or belief about oneself or the world that arises after a traumatic event. Guilt, shame, and self-blame are internal negative emotional responses that people might carry after trauma, reflecting negative self-perceptions and affective states. In PTSD and related trauma conditions, these emotions fall under negative alterations in cognitions and mood, such as persistent self-blame and negative beliefs about oneself.

Insomnia and nightmares are disturbances in sleep and intrusive experiences, which are more about arousal and intrusion. A racing heartbeat is autonomic arousal, a physiological response. Fatigue is a physical energy-related symptom. While these can accompany trauma, they are not primarily emotional-psychological symptoms.